What the Caregiver Should Start doing Now in Greece, NY

Are you a caregiver? Is this something that you’re just starting out doing? If so, then you might be a bit ‘wet behind the ears,’ so to speak. In other words, you might be trying to figure out what you need to do in order to provide the best home care for the elderly individual.

Contrary to what you might think or believe, being a caregiver to a family member is no different than providing home care to a stranger as part of your profession. The care will differ and the approach might vary depending on the personality of the elderly individual, but overall, what you should do in the beginning will essentially remain the same across the board.

Sit down and talk to the elderly client and/or family about their needs. The more that you know about what the elderly individual needs, the more you’ll be able to focus on fulfilling those needs. It will also help you determine what is more important for them so that you can provide what they need.

Listen to the spaces between the words. When you’re sitting down and discussing elderly care with the client and his or her family, you’re going to likely hear a lot of opinions. Listen to what the client is saying, pay attention to what the family members are saying, and try to determine the motivations of those surrounding the client. While the client might not know what the best care would be for them, this doesn’t mean that their opinion should be negated. At all times, it’s important to respect the client.

Gather a list of emergency contact numbers. If you don’t know the client’s doctor, the hospital, and family members’ phone numbers, right them down and place them in a place within the house that you’ll remember and that is close to a phone. With cell phones replacing landlines all over the country today, where isn’t as important as knowing what the numbers are.

Assess the living environment. When you’re a caregiver, part of your obligation and responsibility is to ensure that the environment is conducive to safety. If there are hazards throughout the house, address these with the client and his or her family.

The more that you begin doing right away as a caregiver, the better the care will be in the long run. That’s the most important thing to consider.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of a caregiver in Greece, NY contact the caregivers at Caring Hearts of Rochester, LLC. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (585) 245-0134 for more information.

Many Senior In-Home Care services and products are not covered by insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or public assistance. Most individuals and families often need to pay "out-of-pocket" for some or all services requested. Are there other sources of financing available to you, such as Social Security benefits, VA benefits, or Private Funds?*